# Is my girlfrind bs'ing me or is my jism toxic? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 3, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295 "2006-09-03T14:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/1 "2006-09-03T14:29:25Z")
I’m taking anti-biotics to sort out a dental abcess, my girlfriend noted they are a type she’s allergic too. She uses an IUD as contraception and as a result she reckons we can’t kiss or shag as my saliva and semen will pass on the anti-biotic to her. BS or not? ---
**Author:** ![FRDE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e68b1a/32.png) [@FRDE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FRDE)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/2 "2006-09-03T14:36:21Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > I’m taking anti-biotics to sort out a dental abcess, my girlfriend noted they are a type she’s allergic too. She uses an IUD as contraception and as a result she reckons we can’t kiss or shag as my saliva and semen will pass on the anti-biotic to her. > > BS or not? Who knows ? Buy some Femidons ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/3 "2006-09-03T14:58:43Z")
Some antibiotics are passed into the seminal tract, meaning you could have trace amounts of it in your…uh…jism. They are also found in saliva. I can’t tell you if your antibiotic is, because you didn’t tell us what it is, but chances are pretty good that she’s right. Also, many antibiotics make the birth control pill ineffective, although I don’t know that the dose one could get from semen or saliva would make much of a difference. Still, something to keep in mind for the future even if you’re on an antibiotic she’s not allergic to (or are with another woman). ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/4 "2006-09-03T15:56:08Z")
This line of reasoning at least gives me a new idea. Next time some woman tells me “not tonight, I’ve got a headache” I’ll just tell her I took enough Advils to cure her through intercourse! ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/5 "2006-09-03T16:02:30Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > This line of reasoning at least gives me a new idea. > > Next time some woman tells me “not tonight, I’ve got a headache” I’ll just tell her I took enough Advils to cure her through intercourse! Now _that’s_ thinkin’ on your feet! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/6 "2006-09-03T16:38:59Z")
Or worse … > [@](#): > > The high levels of prostaglandin, a hormone-like molecule found in semen, may fuel cervical and womb (uterine) cancers in women, say scientists from the Medical Research Council, UK. They say women with either womb or cervical cancer should seriously consider asking their partners to use a condom. > > You can read about this in the journal _Human Reproduction_. > > The cells in the lining of the female reproductinve organs contain prostagrandin - it regulates cell growth and makes the womb thicken and also shed during the menstrual cycle. However, prostaglandin levels in semen are about one thousand times higher. > > By exposing cervical and uterine cell receptor molecules to prostaglandin, the scientists found that the signalling between the cells increased - leading to faster tumour growth. Source: [Directory A - B](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=50998) ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2006, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/7 "2006-09-03T23:10:52Z")
Color me confused but why would an antibiotic you are taking interfere with an IUD’s effectiveness? As far as I understand because they are not affected by antibiotics while the pill may be affected ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/8 "2006-09-04T05:41:50Z")
[QUOTE=MannyL] Color me confused but why would an antibiotic you are taking interfere with an IUD’s effectiveness? As far as I understand because they are not affected by antibiotics while the pill may be affected [/QUOTE] The OP’s girlfriend isn’t concerned with the IUD’s effectiveness, but rather that the Antibiotics He’s taking, she’s allergic to. If the IUD is the only form of birth control, she’s exposed to his semen, and she is concerned that some of the antibiotic will be in his semen. I know if I had a vagina I wouldn’t want something I’m allergic to in there. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/9 "2006-09-05T07:56:18Z")
Gotchya I misread the OP ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/10 "2006-09-05T11:51:10Z")
[QUOTE=MannyL] Color me confused but why would an antibiotic you are taking interfere with an IUD’s effectiveness? As far as I understand because they are not affected by antibiotics while the pill may be affected [/QUOTE] If you were referencing **Why Not** ’s post, she was not addressing the case of the OP’s girlfriend, but generalizing about antibiotic-tinged semen as counteracting those who use oral contraceptives. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/11 "2006-09-05T11:54:14Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] If you were referencing **Why Not** ’s post, she was not addressing the case of the OP’s girlfriend, but generalizing about antibiotic-tinged semen as counteracting those who use oral contraceptives. [/QUOTE] It’s way too early! How about “…counteracting the effectiveness of oral contraceptives on those who use them”? ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/12 "2006-09-05T12:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=The Sonoran Lizard King] The OP’s girlfriend isn’t concerned with the IUD’s effectiveness, but rather that the Antibiotics He’s taking, she’s allergic to. If the IUD is the only form of birth control, she’s exposed to his semen, and she is concerned that some of the antibiotic will be in his semen. I know if I had a vagina I wouldn’t want something I’m allergic to in there. :eek: [/QUOTE] Meh, until I’m off them, its back to durex sensations :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/13 "2006-09-05T13:02:56Z")
[QUOTE=Polycarp] If you were referencing **Why Not** ’s post, she was not addressing the case of the OP’s girlfriend, but generalizing about antibiotic-tinged semen as counteracting those who use oral contraceptives. [/QUOTE] And totally WAGing about it, by the way. I really doubt that the dose of an antibiotic taken orally from semen would be enough to affect the metabolism of the birth control pill. I’ve never heard of such a charge, but this was the first time the theoretical risk occured to me. Hey, if They can say St. John’s Wort can interfere with the pill based on only a theoretical risk, I can say the same about antibiotic-laden jism, right? 😉 But, since allergies are not dose dependent (even a microscopic dose of an allergen might be enough to trigger an allergy), I wouldn’t risk contact with the semen of a man taking an antibiotic I’m allergic to. Better safe than asphyxiated by my own respiratory tract. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/14 "2006-09-05T14:20:47Z")
FWIW, I am very alerigc to asprin and advil, but have never had problems with my husband taking it. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/15 "2006-09-05T16:36:12Z")
How long will you be taking the drug? If it’s just a couple of weeks, maybe you should lay off the sex just to assuage your GF. If the Seinfeld episode is true–and they always are–you may turn into a Hawking level genius. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-girlfrind-bsing-me-or-is-my-jism-toxic/371295/16 "2006-09-05T19:34:10Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Now _that’s_ thinkin’ on your feet! [/QUOTE] Or is he just thinking _through_ his… never mind.